episode_0054

Sword energy filling the front.

The former Sword Saint already held a sword in his hand.

Just how fast had he drawn that sword?

The tip of his sword was already lightly touching my face, and a lion hidden in his shadow began to reveal its fangs in the pouring sunlight.

“Three times. I’ll give you exactly three chances. If the tip of my sword touches your neck three times, this letter of recommendation will be revoked.”

What on earth did he mean?

Did he have his own philosophy for accepting disciples?

“Oh, and since you seem to know my swordsmanship, I’ll tell you this: Even if I use that swordsmanship, it will still be your victory.”

What a relief.

Should I not have thought that?

Regulus, who had been detected by magic just moments ago, suddenly vanished.

Only massive sword energy remained in his place.

[Mind Sword]

Was it because the attack was too sudden?

My Mind Sword merely managed to alter the direction of his sword energy.

Did he not even care about this garden?

A tree that had been quietly photosynthesizing next to us was torn apart by his brutal sword energy.

‘Head-on…’

My eyes could only follow his sword energy.

I couldn’t predict his attacks, nor could I react properly.

All I could do was secretly place a Mind Sword behind him to momentarily halt the flowing sword energy.

Perhaps the second exam I took under the name of the instructor was merely entertainment.

His face, moving around and sending out sword energy.

The occasional glimpse of his face revealed none of the good-natured smile I had seen earlier.

Only the eyes of a beast, baring its fangs from that shadow, watching for an opportunity to devour me, remained.

[Cetus Style, First Form]

[Deneb Algenubi]

Four Mind Swords undulated, making a wave-like sound for me.

A few short seconds, gained by disrupting him with one Mind Sword.

His movements were becoming even faster.

‘One time, I must end it with a single attack… If I drag this out any longer…’

If I dragged this out any longer, even I, who fluidly grasps my surroundings with magic, wouldn’t be able to stop him, as he moves faster than the magic returns.

‘Before, how on earth did he control his power, even using [Lion]…?’

Even without the constellation’s swordsmanship, he had already ascended to the position of Sword Saint.

I, who had briefly felt relieved thinking the lion was just sitting quietly in the shadow, had received such an attack in the beginning.

Had I grown by seeing gods and slaughtering chimeras in the [Garden] despite everything?

The four Mind Swords quickly merged, creating a massive wave.

Did I still have confidence from having killed many chimeras in the [Garden]?

The wave crashed down with a mighty roar, engulfing the spot where my magic had last sensed him.

‘Is it over…? There’s no counterattack…’

The magic emanating from my fingertips began to spread.

To report the battle situation to me.

“One time. How long will you insist that your method is correct? Such methods are not excellent in battle.”

A deep and measured voice.

The lion’s master was aiming at me from behind with the tip of a sharp sword.

Had the lion anticipated this situation?

It simply yawned from the Sword Saint’s shadow, watching me.

‘He’s *this* fast….?’

I had been continuously sending magic in all directions.

Until now, I had managed all battles with this method, but what if the opponent is faster than the speed at which magic returns to me?

My brain would perceive the empty air as cutting me.

I had complacently thought that the only weakness of this method was something that completely nullified magic, like the golems I saw in the [Garden].

I had been convinced that the method I had used so far was correct and hadn’t tried to change it.

“…..”

Was he still being considerate of me?

When retreating, he moved slowly enough for my magic to detect him.

[Cetus Style, Third Form]

[Menkar]

The technique I had used against him before.

Even if I couldn’t swallow a god’s technique, perhaps I could swallow his sword energy again?

“Ugh…..”

As the whale shark appeared behind me, my body felt like it was being dragged by a massive wave without a life jacket.

It didn’t matter if I felt this pain.

If only I could absorb the sword energy he was preparing to unleash and counterattack.

If only I could unleash his magic like before and send Regulus, the Sword Saint, flying.

[[Menkar] refuses.]

The massive shadow that had appeared behind me soon vanished, leaving only faint ripples as if it had never been there.

And I was far too inadequate to stop his approach with just those shallow ripples.

He didn’t even make a gesture.

The ripples simply parted from the shallow sword energy generated by his mere passing.

“You’re too slow. Two times.”

The tip of his sword was already touching my chin.

“They don’t always move according to your will. Moreover, you’re using this swordsmanship in the wrong way.”

The deep voice continued to scold my actions.

That’s strange.

Clearly, it had succeeded in shattering the World Tree’s gate in the [Garden], and it had answered my call even when I tried to absorb a god’s magic.

[Cetus Style, Second Form]

[Caphajidma]

The four orcas danced and charged at him as he slowly retreated.

But were they also too much for him?

With each of his gestures, they split in half and quietly returned to the waves.

‘Can I trust this…?’

One time.

It was one of the lightest phrases, yet to me now, it felt heavier than any other word.

If the tip of his sword touched my neck again, I would leave this place having learned nothing.

My magic.

My damned magic whispered that he was still preparing sword energy far away.

That he wasn’t making any moves, to rest assured.

At that moment,

I cut off the magic I had been continuously sending out.

The sound of grass blades rustling in the gentle breeze.

Weeds softly tickling my ankles from the sword energy dispersing here and there.

A slight smell of burning due to the sword energy disregarding the trees.

I began to concentrate my senses on all of this.

Should I call it fortunate?

My senses were sharp because I was blind.

The sound of him pushing off the ground and rushing from the left.

[Mind Sword]

The Mind Swords that had been circling me, providing all-around defense, merged at that moment to defend the left.

With a clang, as his sword energy and my Mind Sword canceled each other out,

The sound of a shoe sole scraping, had he changed direction?

The last sound came from his toes.

‘In front…!’

As he made his final turn, he was so close I could hear his cape flapping.

I could tell without deploying magic.

The wind that allowed me to predict the sword energy coming from afar.

A light thud, unlike the expected crash.

But do you remember?

I had only continuously used four Mind Swords.

[Mind Sword]

The sharp Mind Sword that had been held close to me sprang out, aiming for Regulus’s neck.

‘This is…!’

The joy of being one step ahead was fleeting.

All my senses began to perceive something.

Yellow eyes like the sunset, the eyes of a beast.

A mane fluttering in the gentle breeze,

Those massive feet powerfully pushing off.

“Ugh…!!”

With a dying scream, my body was thrown.

My body, rolling and tumbling, finally stopped thanks to a single remaining tree.

“Indeed, you found a new method based on my words.”

I could tell from his tone.

That I had passed his first test.

“To always hide a sword close to you, how clever. Yes, a warrior, by nature, must have a trump card.”

He extended his hand to me as I lay fallen.

I took his hand with a soft click and replied to his words.

“Thank you… But is this the end…?”

Had I, for a moment, defined him as a greater villain than I had thought?

My thoughts instantly whispered to me that it couldn’t possibly be the end.

“Yes, it’s the end. But listen. It can also be said that it’s just the beginning. I’ll teach you the swordsmanship of my constellation and basic swordsmanship, so stay here for a month without worry.”

A calm and composed voice.

To that voice, which was like a consultation, I could only utter a single word.

“Huh…?”

Had my dumbfounded voice not been heard?

He continued what he was saying.

Of course, it was an honor if it was an honor, and as a player, such an experience was essential, so it was indeed good.

However, wasn’t there something I was forgetting?

The memory quietly sleeping within me showed no sign of stirring.

“Ah, don’t worry about the dormitory and classes. I’ll take care of everything. This place spent a lot of money, so the accommodation is good.”

Regulus said, pointing with his hand to the towering building behind them.

It was a place only accessible to those who showed the greatest prominence in the academy, wasn’t it obvious?

Thanking Regulus, who matched my steps one by one and walked with me,

I walked into hell.

Regret later crept in, wondering why I had entered this place without a word,

And the thought that Ibn, who considered me an enemy, wouldn’t possibly give me something she thought was good, also crossed my mind.

But it was irreversible.